Nation and Memory in Nation and Memory in Eastern Europe Eastern Europe

Lecture 9National Celebrations

Week 10, Autumn Term

Outline

1. Celebrating the nation2. Russia3. Ukraine4. Poland5. National holidays today6. Conclusion

CelebrationsCelebrations

Concretion of historical developmentsConcretion of historical developments Reflection of social relationsReflection of social relations Ritual, narrative, repetitionRitual, narrative, repetition Unifying, including and excludingUnifying, including and excluding

National celebrationsNational celebrations

Type of political celebrationsType of political celebrations Since the French Revolution common all over Since the French Revolution common all over

EuropeEurope In France they replaced monarchic-dynastic In France they replaced monarchic-dynastic

celebrations and, for a few years, also celebrations and, for a few years, also religious celebrationsreligious celebrations

National Celebrations IINational Celebrations II

National celebrations often had a middle class backgroundNational celebrations often had a middle class background In 19In 19thth c. Europe they competed with monarchic and dynastic c. Europe they competed with monarchic and dynastic

celebrations (often birthdays of the prince/king/emperor and celebrations (often birthdays of the prince/king/emperor and members of his family)members of his family)

Can be affirmative or oppositionist (for example in Germany in the Can be affirmative or oppositionist (for example in Germany in the first half of the 19first half of the 19thth c. liberal, national movement against existing c. liberal, national movement against existing order)order)

Can stabilise or destabilise the political systemCan stabilise or destabilise the political system Combination of national and dynastic celebrations possible Combination of national and dynastic celebrations possible

(Germany after 1871 and partially Russia before the 1(Germany after 1871 and partially Russia before the 1stst World War) World War) Role in political educationRole in political education

all members of the nation should celebrate; during the celebration all members of the nation should celebrate; during the celebration class, gender and competing affiliations should not matter; in this class, gender and competing affiliations should not matter; in this respect: celebration is a staging of the nation, of national unity and respect: celebration is a staging of the nation, of national unity and shows how the nation should beshows how the nation should be

Outline

1. Celebrating the nation2. Russia3. Ukraine4. Poland5. National holidays today6. Conclusion

Autocracy and ChurchAutocracy and Church

Every yearEvery year Birthday of Emperor and family membersBirthday of Emperor and family members Anniversaries of ascension to the throneAnniversaries of ascension to the throne Orthodox holidaysOrthodox holidays Days of national saints (for example Alexander Days of national saints (for example Alexander

Nevsky)Nevsky)Singular eventsSingular events 200200thth anniversary of the Battle of Poltava (1909) anniversary of the Battle of Poltava (1909) 100100thth anniversary of the Patriotic War (1912) anniversary of the Patriotic War (1912) 300 years Romanov Dynasty (1913)300 years Romanov Dynasty (1913)

Revolution and WarRevolution and War

The anniversaries of the October Revolution: The anniversaries of the October Revolution: 7th,8th,9th November7th,8th,9th November

Days of the Red Army, the Red Navy, the Air Days of the Red Army, the Red Navy, the Air Force, of different mass organisationsForce, of different mass organisations

1st May: The day of the international workers’ 1st May: The day of the international workers’ movementmovement

8th March: International Women’s Day8th March: International Women’s Day Death of LeninDeath of Lenin After 1945: 9th May, Victory Day After 1945: 9th May, Victory Day Anniversaries of major battles of the Second Anniversaries of major battles of the Second

World WarWorld War

Outline

1. Celebrating the nation2. Russia3. Ukraine4. Poland5. National holidays today6. Conclusion

Poets and the StatePoets and the State

Celebration of anniversaries of famous Celebration of anniversaries of famous Ukrainian poetsUkrainian poets

Shevchenko celebrationsShevchenko celebrations Anniversaries of Ukrainian organisationsAnniversaries of Ukrainian organisations After 1917: Soviet celebrationsAfter 1917: Soviet celebrations Act of Pereyaslavl 1654, “unification” of Act of Pereyaslavl 1654, “unification” of

Russia and Ukraine – big celebrations in 1954Russia and Ukraine – big celebrations in 1954 Anniversaries of Ukrainian heroesAnniversaries of Ukrainian heroes

Outline

1. Celebrating the nation2. Russia3. Ukraine4. Poland5. National holidays today6. Conclusion

Victories and Defeats, Constitution and Independence

Anniversaries of important events of the Polish-Lithuanian Anniversaries of important events of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Polish-Lithuanian Union 1569, Battle of Grunwald Commonwealth, Polish-Lithuanian Union 1569, Battle of Grunwald 1410, etc.1410, etc.

Anniversaries of uprisingsAnniversaries of uprisings Religious holidays, especially November 1 and 2Religious holidays, especially November 1 and 2 Funerals and anniversaries of poetsFunerals and anniversaries of poets Day of the Constitution of May 3, 1791Day of the Constitution of May 3, 1791 Independence Day: November 11, 1918Independence Day: November 11, 1918 Anniversaries of the nation building wars of 1918-1920, of the Anniversaries of the nation building wars of 1918-1920, of the

Polish-Soviet War 1920Polish-Soviet War 1920 Anniversaries of the Warsaw Uprising 1944 (opposition), of Victory Anniversaries of the Warsaw Uprising 1944 (opposition), of Victory

Day (May 8, 1945), the German attack on Poland and other Day (May 8, 1945), the German attack on Poland and other important events of the Second World Warimportant events of the Second World War

May Constitution: May 3, 1791 (Matejko, 1891)May Constitution: May 3, 1791 (Matejko, 1891)

Case StudyCase Study

Grunwald celebrations Grunwald celebrations 1910 in Cracow1910 in Cracow

Functions of the celebrations of Grunwald

1. Creation of tradition

2. Creation of community

3. Creation of religious feeling

4. Creation of identity and representation of the enemy

Kopiec Grunwaldzki (hill dedicated to Grunwald) in Niepolomice, 1910

Unveiling of the Grunwald monument in CracowJuly 15, 1910

Grunwald monument in Cracow

Rota Words by Maria Konopnicka 1908

Music by Feliks Nowowiejski, Cracow 1910

Nie rzucim ziemi, skąd nasz ród.Nie damy pogrześć mowy.Polski my naród, polski lud,Królewski szczep Piastowy.Nie damy, by nas zgnębił wróg.

We will not abandon the land of our clan.We will not allow our language to be buried.We are the Polish nation, the Polish people,The royal tribe of the Piasts.We will not allow the enemy to repress us.

Tak nam dopomóż Bóg!Tak nam dopomóż Bóg

So help us God!So help us God

Do krwi ostatniej kropli z żyłBronić bedziemy ducha,Aż się rozpadnie w proch i w pyłKrzyżacka zawierucha.Twierdzą nam będzie każdy próg.

To the last drop of blood in our veinsWe will defend our soulUntil into ashes and dustThe Teutonic storm collapses.Every doorstep shall be our fortress.

Tak nam dopomóż Bóg!Tak nam dopomóż Bóg

So help us God!So help us God

Nie będzie Niemiec pluł nam w twarzNi dzieci nam germanił,Orężny wstanie hufiec nasz,Duch będzie nam hetmanił.Pójdziem, gdy zabrzmi złoty róg.

The German will not spit in our face,Nor will he Germanize our children,Our battalion will armed arise,And the spirit will be our commander.We will go when the golden horn calls.

Tak nam dopomóż Bóg!Tak nam dopomóż Bóg

So help us God!So help us God

Cracow, 16 July 1910

Cracow, 16 July 1910

Cracow, 17 July 1910

“Just as Grunwald marks the beginning of the consciousness of national strength, the memory of Grunwald marks the beginnings of consciousness of the people and the workers.”

Bishop Bandurski in his sermon held in the

Church of St.. Mary on the occasion of the

500th anniversary of the battle of Grunwald

on July 21, 1910

Funeral of President Hindenburg August 1934 (German Grunwald Monument)

Memorial complex of Grunwald

today

Grunwald celebrations, July 15, Grunwald celebrations, July 15, 2002 near Stebark2002 near Stebark

Outline

1. Celebrating the nation2. Russia3. Ukraine4. Poland5. National holidays today6. Conclusion

RussiaRussia

February 23 Protector of the MotherlandFebruary 23 Protector of the Motherland

DayDay March 8 March 8 International Women’s Day International Women’s Day May 1 May 1 Spring and Labour Day Spring and Labour Day May 9 May 9 Victory Day (Over German Nazism Victory Day (Over German Nazism

in WW2) in WW2) June 12 June 12 Independence Day (Russia Day) Independence Day (Russia Day) November 4  Day of National UnityNovember 4  Day of National Unity

A

 

UkraineUkraine

  March 8       International Women’s March 8       International Women’s Day      Day      

  May 1 and 2    The Day of the May 1 and 2    The Day of the International Solidarity of International Solidarity of the Workers        the Workers       

May 9            Victory Day       May 9            Victory Day        June 28         Constitution Day       June 28         Constitution Day        August 24      Independence DayAugust 24      Independence Day

2003

PolandPoland

May 1 May 1 May Day May Day May 3 May 3 Constitution Day Constitution Day November 11 Independence Day November 11 Independence Day

Constitution Day, Warsaw, 2005

Outline

1. Celebrating the nation2. Russia3. Ukraine4. Poland5. National holidays today6. Conclusion

Conclusion – Functions of national celebrationsConclusion – Functions of national celebrations

Strengthening national unityStrengthening national unity Inclusion and exclusionInclusion and exclusion Ritualized visualisation of the nationRitualized visualisation of the nation Defining the nation’s pastDefining the nation’s past Raising the spirit of the nationRaising the spirit of the nation Stabilising the existing political order or calling Stabilising the existing political order or calling

for a revision/revolutionfor a revision/revolution